Pyrene intercalating nucleic acids with a carbon linker

We have synthesized a carbon linker analogue of INA (oligonucleotides containing insertions of 1-O-(1-pyrenylmethyl)glycerol). Thermal stability studies showed an increase in melting temperature in favor of the carbon linker analogue. We also synthesized a carbon linker analogue with two pyrenes geminally attached. Fluorescence studies of this intercalating nucleic acid with the pyrene moieties inserted as a bulge showed formation of an excimer band. When a mismatch was introduced at the site of the intercalator, an excimer band was formed for the destabilized duplexes whereas an exciplex band was observed when the stability of the duplex was retained.